Singh ruins Weir's moment in Canada

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Fijian Vijay Singh began his reign as world No.1 with a dramatic sudden-death play-off win over Mike Weir in the Canadian Open on Sunday.

Singh clinched his seventh title of the season on the third extra hole, spoiling the event's 100th anniversary party for the thousands of spectators who wanted Weir to become the first home winner for 50 years.

Weir, whose popularity in Canada is surpassed only by ice hockey's Wayne Gretzky, began the day with a three-shot cushion. But the 2003 US Masters champion battled his nerves through a roller-coaster, one-over-par 72 in the closing round to finish alongside Singh (69) on nine-under 275.

Playing in his first event since replacing Tiger Woods as the world No.1, Singh sent the tournament into a play-off when he sank a 2.5-metre putt for birdie on the par-five 18th. He then secured his fourth title in five starts with a routine tap-in for par at the 18th after Weir's approach found the water at the third extra hole.

"I feel for Mike," Singh said.

"He would have wanted to win for the crowds but that's the way golf goes; somebody has to win.

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"To win one PGA tour event is very difficult to do, but what I have done is just incredible. It's a ride that I hope can go on forever but I know it will come to an end one day."

Meanwhile, Australian Nick O'Hern broke through the €1 million ($1.77 million) season earnings barrier and went a long way to ensuring he plays all four majors next season with a second placing in the German Masters. The left-hander finished three strokes behind Ireland's Padraig Harrington

and jumped from 16th to a career-best seventh on the European money list.

He is now well placed to retain his top-15 order-of-merit position when the season ends next month, guaranteeing him automatic entry into all the majors except the Masters.

In Broken Arrow, Oklahoma, Sweden's world No.1 Annika Sorenstam won her fifth LPGA tour title of the year, closing with a one-under 70 for a four-shot victory at the Hammons Hotel Classic.